Port Huron man commits suicide in jail cell

Monday, February 11, 2013

An inmate awaiting trial on a home invasion charge committed suicide in his cell at the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center Friday afternoon, according to St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon. The Port Huron man, 28, tied a sheet around his neck and lay down on his mattress with another sheet covering his head around 3 p.m.

Corrections deputies performing their rounds originally thought the man was sleeping. A second check a few minutes later revealed the unconscious man. Deputies immediately contacted medical staff at the corrections facility and also EMS, then began CPR. He was transported to Mercy Hospital by Tri-Hospital EMS, where he was pronounced dead. The man had a long history of mental illness and had made other attempts at suicide.

“Our jail administrator, Tom Bliss, has reviewed the video of the incident,” Donnellon said. “By watching the video, it was determined the corrections deputies performed their duties by the book and did everything possible to assist the man. Unfortunately, this person was apparently determined to take his life.”